This is just a one shot. Its an idea that came to me, based on if Charlie came back now and Brax and Natalie were involved with each other. What would happen?
Natalies POV:
I saw her standing on the beach, close to the shore, staring out to sea. She looked like she was in running gear. Casey had told me that she was desperate to get back out and start running again. I'd had enough experience with traumatised victims to understand that it was a way to escape the nightmares but I think with Charlie it was a way for her to push her body and prove to herself that she was strong enough.
At the moment her body wasn't strong enough, it was still recuperating, she'd been stuck indoors for too long.
She'd been back in the Bay for 3 weeks; Ruby had decided she should come back here before going anywhere else so that she could face any demons. 3 weeks ago Jake Pirovic had been found dead in prison and the Braxton world had been turned upside down...again.
Last night I'd broken it off with Brax. I should have done it before, or maybe he should have. We both knew it was inevitable but for some reason we clung on. I think he felt bad for me but I'd always known that I couldn't compete Charlie and that was before I'd even met her!
They hadn't communicated properly since he'd found out she was alive. They didn't know what to say to each other, there were too many emotions but anyone could see that they longed for each other. They just needed a push in the right direction.
I made my way down the sand, calling out to her as I got closer.
'Hi...Morning...Charlie?'
'Hi' she looked round at me suddenly as though I'd surprised her. 'Uh sorry I was miles away'
I smiled, 'Somewhere nice I hope'
She smiled, laughing through her nose and shrugging.
'It's lovely at this time of morning' I said, nodding my head toward the vast open water.
'Yeah it really is' she agreed, looking back towards the sun sparkling off the ocean.
'I've got a meeting before school, what's your excuse for being up this early?' I asked
'Oh ...um...I couldn't...I just...' she shrugged, smiling slightly but looking away, seeming uncomfortable.
I could guess what she was about to say but it amazed me how alike her and Brax were. They were so difficult to read, so closed off. They were both bad at communicating; only showing what they wanted people to see. Brax didn't talk about Charlie. But now she was back, I could see how different he was. He felt like he had a second chance.
Charlies POV:
'I'm usually pretty good at reading people, it's part of my job, and I guess you're the same, having been in the police force.'
I frowned slightly at her not sure what she was going to say. I knew she was a therapist, she'd helped Casey, Bianca and probably even Brax but I really didn't want her trying to understand me. I'd had that in hospital; I'd had it from everyone in town since I'd been back.
'I couldn't understand him at first.'
I turned my head to look at her. I knew immediately who she was talking about and it surprised me.
I'd met her last week in the diner. She'd somehow known who I was straight away and I'd guessed who she was by the awkward look I was receiving from both Ruby and Casey who had been with me.
Although the thought of her and Brax gave me a dull ache in my heart, I actually really liked her and much to the bemusement of half the diner I'd sat and had a coffee with her. But we never talked about Brax.
She continued and I turned to look out to sea again. I wanted to hear what she had to say but I wasn't sure if my heart could handle it.
'I struggled to understand Casey too but I came to realise that Caseys troubles were usually related to Brax. They have a deep connection. I judged Brax before I got to know him; I assumed he was a troublemaker. But it wasn't until I heard about your story that I truly started to appreciate why he was the way he was; what he was going through'
She paused and I could tell she was checking with me to see if I was listening.
'Because of my job I get asked a lot if people can really change. I don't know the answer and I don't know the answer with Brax but I think he contemplates things differently. I think you've changed the way he thinks.'
I sucked in a breath at her acknowledgement.
'He's never stopped thinking about you, never stopped feeling guilty. He holds you in a completely different league to anyone else.'
I closed my eyes, willing away the tears that were threatening to spill over.
'I'm not going to give him to you, he was never mine to give, but I'm not going to fight you either. He's yours, he's always been yours and I have a feeling he probably always will be.'
She practically whispered it.
'Communicate with each other, life's too short not to; you both know that. Be happy, he deserves it.'
The tears spilled down my cheeks. I couldn't say anything, my brain and my mouth couldn't function. I couldn't believe what she'd just said. What was I supposed to say to that?! I slowly turned to look at her and she smiled weakly at me before turning and walking away.
I watched her go. I felt I owed her something but what could I give her; she'd practically just given me my life back. I wanted to say something but I seemed to have lost all functionality.
Even my legs were threatening to give way as all sorts of emotions washed over me.
I wish I knew what to say to him. So much had happened neither of us knew where to start. We'd been avoiding each other. I thought he was angry at me, he thought I was angry at him. I felt guilty, he felt guilty and so we went round in circles. It was stupid. But we'd always been bad at voicing our feelings.
I smiled as I realised our relationship had actually started without any real feelings! And it occurred to me that actions speak louder than words.
I had a sudden urge for him to walk out the water right now, as I'd seen him do so many times after surfing. But he didn't and I knew I had to go find him, to tell him...no...to show him exactly how much I loved him and how nothing would ever change that. We'd start with that and we'd talk...eventually.
